Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak already sees something rare in tight end Brock Bowers. The third-year pro has impressed everyone new to the building, and Kubiak made that clear this week when he called Bowers a “football robot, in a good way” and a “football robot from heaven.”
“He’s a Cadillac out there,” Kubiak said Wednesday at OTAs. “We’ve got to get the most out of Brock. Wherever he goes, he’s been successful in college and high school. Whoever has coached him, so I can’t say enough great things about him, love his work ethic. He’s a standard bearer.”
The words landed with weight because they came from a coach who just arrived. Kubiak, hired in February after guiding the Seattle Seahawks’ offense to a Super Bowl title, is still learning his roster. Yet Bowers stood out immediately.
Bowers does not just catch passes. He creates problems for defenses before the ball is even snapped. He lines up inline, in the slot, or even split out wide. His combination of size, speed, and reliable hands forces coordinators into uncomfortable choices every single snap.
Linebackers struggle to stay with him in space. Safeties get boxed out by his frame. Corners often find themselves outmatched when he wins at the point of attack. Quarterbacks love throwing to him because the ball rarely hits the ground. That reliability showed up in year one and carried through a shortened 2025 campaign.
During his rookie season in 2024, Bowers set first-year tight end records with 112 receptions and 1,194 receiving yards. In 2025, injuries limited him to 12 games, yet he still posted 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns while ranking among the top 10 tight ends in each major category.
| Year | Games Played | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17 | 112 | 1,194 | 5 |
| 2025 | 12 | 64 | 680 | 7 |
Bowers does not operate in a vacuum. The Raiders added another high-upside piece when they drafted quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall in April. The former Indiana star and Heisman winner brings size, arm talent, and football intelligence that already has coaches raving during early offseason work.
Running back Ashton Jeanty adds another dynamic element to the backfield. Together with Bowers, the three young players give Kubiak and his staff a foundation they can develop for years. Veteran Kirk Cousins, who signed with Las Vegas this offseason, provides steady leadership and a bridge while the younger quarterback learns the nuances of the pro game.
Kubiak’s offense rewards players who can win in multiple ways. Bowers fits that mold perfectly. His ability to stretch the field vertically, win on intermediate routes, and contribute after the catch gives the play-caller options that many teams simply do not have at the tight end position.
The real test arrives when pads come on and the regular season begins. But the early signals from OTAs point in one clear direction: the Raiders believe they have a special player in Bowers and a young supporting cast that can grow together.
Kubiak has made his priorities plain. Get the ball to Bowers. Let him do what he does best. Build around the talent already in the building. For a franchise looking to turn the page, that focus on one of its brightest young stars sends a direct message about where the organization is headed.
Walk through the Raiders facility right now and the energy feels different. The new coaching staff sees the same traits that made Bowers a standout from high school through college and into his first two NFL seasons. Now they get to shape how that talent translates into wins.
